"I can't imagine anyone else would come close." For once, he doesn't deflect. Ren deserves... something. Akechi's hardly one to sugarcoat or offer reassurances, but with how open he's been over something so delicate...

Damn it. Akechi's trying, at least, even if the tension lingers, and his arms fold tightly over his chest.

"You're the only one here who completely understands me. So... there's that, and you had better not disappear on me again."

He does need to think. He needs to figure out what this means, but there's still that yearning feeling, like invisible hands reaching out, just to draw back out of fear.

It's not hopeless, even Akechi would argue that he often feels like he is.